The question put to him – does the city of Cincinnati seem like it would be an attractive place to play out your Major League Soccer career – is a tricky one to address. Initially, Zusi didn't really address it.

"It'd be tough for me to honestly answer that question," Zusi said, "because I've never had the opportunity to go to Cincinnati."

In fairness to Zusi, it was a tricky question and for several reasons, the least of which is that an overabundance of zest for Cincinnati and its MLS expansion franchise could offend the Sporting Kansas City fans that adore Zusi.

It's also tricky because players, like all people, can be finicky about choosing a city or town to live and work.

So, sure, Cincinnati's arts scene is thriving. Over-the-Rhine, East Walnut Hills, and other neighborhoods are all booming, Washington Park is pretty when the fountains are on in the summer and the local foodie scene is enticing.

But such matters are usually trivial in the grand scheme when a player is debating on where to play.

For a large population of the professional soccer workforce, it can be as simple as a club's fan support, financial resources, culture and drive to win championships.

Even if those aren't the deciding factors, they can certainly help compel a player to move out of their comfort zone.

Right now, the fact that FC Cincinnati is checking a lot of the boxes in terms of support, the pursuit of championships and financial resources is resonating with plenty of elite MLS players.

Multiple members of the MLS All-Star team, which on Wednesday tied Juventus 1-1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, made it clear that FC Cincinnati's fan support and willingness to spend big on players will likely make it a compelling club to consider in the months and years to come.

"I think players, on the whole, want to play (with) big crowds, and when I went to play Cincinnati I knew they had a great crowd and a great atmosphere, so that would definitely be an attractive place," Bradley Wright-Phillips of the New York Red Bulls said after the All-Star Game.

Phillips referenced his trip to the University of Cincinnati's Nippert Stadium for the U.S. Open Cup semifinal match in August 2017, adding that atmospheres like that will always be big a draw for players.

Then there's the business side of the equation, which Zusi was able to speak to even though he demonstrated little knowledge of Cincinnati's many cultural offerings.

FC Cincinnati's acquisition this week of MLS Designated Player Fanendo Adi, a strong defensive midfielder in Fatai Alashe and a loan-to-buy deal for a Serie A player sent a strong, early message to the MLS workforce the club is serious about courting top talent.

"Absolutely. No question about it," Zusi said. "I've played against Adi more than I can remember. Just a handful of a player and a goal scorer. For them to go out and make that their first signing says a lot."

Diego Valeri, a 2015 MLS Cup champion while playing with Adi and Portland Timbers FC, seemed to agree with Zusi, saying FC Cincinnati is grabbing MLS players' attention for how they're starting to build their foundation.

It should be noted that Zusi, Wright-Phillips, and Valeri are all comfortable in their respective situations at their current clubs.

It's clear, though, that many are paying attention to FC Cincinnati's personnel designs, and might consider entertaining offers should they eventually come to fruition.

"Every franchise that is coming to MLS, it's trying to put (together) a good team and try to have a competitive team from the start," Valeri said, "which makes it interesting for any player in MLS."